An advocacy group is trying and stop the New York State Deperment of Environmental Conservation (DEC) from completing a forestry management project at Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area in Otto New York. Unlike the destructive logging practices of old, the managment project will be instrumental in creating more habitat for songbirds and other early successional habitat dependent species, and is supported by the Audubon Society. Read on to see why should you help BHA support the DEC in this habitat improvement project.

         Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Zoar Valley MUA is an incredible parcel of public land that sits just an hour drive from Buffalo, New York. Its main feature being the gorge cut out by the Cattaraugus Creek running through it. Zoar Valley has had a long history of human activity, individuals hoping to settle the area built farms, sawmills, graveyards, and even a cheese factory. Over time these efforts failed and so Zoar Valley came to be as the state began to acquire it in the 1930’s. Possibly one of the most popular parcels of state land in Western New York, Zoar Valley is beloved by many.

         Zoar Valley and the DEC

More than just a popular destination, the DEC has worked with trustworthy conservation organizations for decades. In the early 90’s the DEC coordinated with the American Chestnut Foundation to begin planting trees as seed sources for future planting projects. The original plantation grew to 18 acres in 1999, The Chestnut Foundation maintains portions of the property under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with the DEC to protect the trees to this day.

Despite the recent outcry, the DEC’s actions over the past few decades do not indicate that there is any reckless overharvesting on the property. In fact there are specific swaths of the property that are excluded from any discussion of logging.

Successional Habitat

Of all the forest types we have here in New York, Early Successional Habitat (ESH) is recognized as being of most concern. This is because we are rapidly losing this type of habitat faster than any type of habitat. ESH occurs after disturbances to a forest’s canopy allow for sunlight to return to the forest floor, good for about 10 to 25 years before “aging out”. These disturbances include fire, windstorms, heavy snowfall, and most of all, logging.

 In the available Niagara Frontier Unit Management Plan, published by the DEC, it states “The large numbers of regenerating seedling/sapling stems are of great importance to many birds and animal species seeking food, nesting cover and an area of protection from predators.” The logging the DEC wishes to do will aid in generating this type of habitat.

The issue is not unique to New York, many Eastern states are facing concerning declines in ESH. This is due to a lack of needed disturbances. Many of the forests that were clearcut in the 1800’s have regenerated, however many of our forests lack the structural variety needed to provide for all the wildlife it supports. Because of human intervention and development ESH is lost, simply because the forest is growing and there isn’t enough disturbance to replace it.

Old Growth and Misconceptions

Old growth forests are majestic and important habitats, especially where they are already established. However they do not provide the entire suite of ecological services that are needed.

 It is understandable why there would be such a large outcry against logging of any kind. We are shown image after image of the damage of the deforestation of old. However powerful the image be, it is still an outdated one. The practices of old are no longer being used and as counterintuitive as it may be, the forest needs us to cut more trees.

Young forests are vital because they provide food, bedding, and protection across the span of the entire year. Turkey poults and grouse chicks need ESH for insects and cover during the summer and provide needed resources to adults during the fall and winter.

According to the Niagara Frontier Unit Management Plan, ESH comprises less than 1% of the overall makeup of the land. That includes Zoar Valley.

While still diminutive, old growth forests account for 4% of the area. This impacts many native wildlife species, including turkeys, deer, songbirds, and other ESH dependent species. Chief among them is the Ruffed Grouse, which is completely dependent upon ESH and without proper management of the forest, will run out of suitable habitat.

The proposed forest management project will help make sure there is a balanced amount of all needed forest types on the landscape.

Other Reasons to Harvest Timber

In a time fraught with all different types of issues surrounding the environment it is important to be able to help our forests adapt. Logging not only creates habitat but can be used to protect it as well.

There is a need for biodiversity across the landscape. Forests managed with biodiversity in mind are much more resilient to pests, diseases, and natural disasters. Managing biodiversity oftentimes means utilizing strategic logging as a primary tool of generating young forests, which can help provide the needed biodiversity needed within our limited available spaces to do so. Natural disturbance of forest such as fire is largely unpredictable and hazardous to adjacent sensitive areas. 

We have seen year after year as invasives pests and diseases ravage our forests. Logging can also be utilized to slow down the spread of invasives, such as beech bark disease, by creating buffer zones between infected and uninfected stands of trees.

What Can We Do?

Recently it seems that emotionally driven people are speaking out against work scientifically proven techniques to help our forest. Diversity of cover helps with the diversity of fauna which is crucial to helping forest flourish in the face of climate change and human encroachment pressure. You can act now to let the DEC hear your support of valuable management practices and help keep our forests healthy and thriving!

Contacts to reach out to in support of the DEC forestry management project for Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Sean Mahar Interim Commissioner

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233

[email protected] (518) 402-8013

Julie Barrett-O'Neill Regional Director NYS DEC Region 9

700 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo NY 14209

[email protected] (716) 851-7200

Michael Burger Executive Director Connecticut/New York Audubon Society

9 Thurlow Terrace, Suite 100, Albany, NY12203

[email protected] (518) 869-9731

The Buffalo News

Email: [email protected]